Holding asphalt



mmm@

C. C. HAWKlNS M OLDING ASPHALT Filed Aug. 24,

Patented @et .9', i923.

UNT?

heit@ CLEMENT C. HAWKINS, 0F PORT NECHES, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR T0 THE TEXAS COMFANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF TEXAS.

HOLDING ASPHALT.

Application tiled August 2i, 1921. Serial Ho. s94,80.

To all zofzom t may concern:

Be it known that l, CLEMENT C. HAW- KINs, a citizen of the United States, residing in Port Neches, county of Jefferson, and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Molding` Asphalt, ofwvhich the following is a spcci fication. l

This invention relates to improvements in molding asphalt and similar material and in preparing same for shipment and refers particularly to an improved system of preparing the harder grades ot asphalt for the market. v

In present methods of preparing asphalt for the market the asphalt is placed and shipped in barrels or other containers of various types. The primary object ot' my invention is to obviate the use of packages in which to ship the asphalttherchy reducing the expense of n'xarketing the product.

a further object is to provide a mold of such nature that the asphalt may be prepared for shipment in molded pieces which are easy to handle and are of convenient form and Size for the customer.

A still further object of theinvention is to provide a mold of such nature that the molded asphalt may be removed from the mold With ease and with a minimum of labor.

My invention contemplates a system in which the asphalt is molded in cylindrical containers of such nature that while certain parts of the mold are permanently and rigidly secured together, certain other parts thereof are temporarily held in position and may be easily loosened to release the molded product. The mold of my invention preferably assumes the form of a cylindrical body having a bilge such as the configuration of a barrel. The bilge may be formed by means of longitudinally extending members having a greater diameter in the central portions thereof than at the ends. The lower ends of the members or staves are rigidly andV permanently secured together While the upper ends are temporarily held in position in such manner that when the means for holding together said upper ends is released they are opened up or spread apart above the bilge and thus enable the asphalt to be removed from the mold with facility.

In the accompanying drawings I have 11- lustrated a preferred forrn'of mold constructed in accordance with my invention and constituting an embodiment thereof and in which: f

Figure l is a view in perspective showing the mold in positionfor molding the product.

Figure 2 is a view showing the mold inv open position for releasing the asphalt, the frame of the mold being partially broken away to expose a4 portion of the molded product.

In the prefer-red `form of apparatus illustrated the mold is substantially cylindrical in form and includes a plurality of longitudinally extending members l0 which are in the form of strips or staves of less Width at the ends thereof than in the more cent-ral portions. The staves or strips are fitted edge to edge to foripma circle and since the ends are of less width' than the other portions the result is that the cylinder formed contains a bilge, as in a barrel. D

@ne end otV the cylindrical mold contains y a closure while the other end preferably rem mains open.- Retaining means, preferably of a substantially permanent nature, is provided to rigidly hold the staves in position at the closed end ofthe mold. Thus the mold may be equipped with one or more hoops 11 secured by nails or rivets l2.' A Wire 13 secured by nails 14 is showin, rthe wire being desirable when the mold is con-v structed of wood. lt is to be understood that the mold may he formed of wood, metal or any other suitable materialf l The longitudinal strips or staves -l0 at the open end of the mold are temporarily held together by suitable hoops or wires ar ranged in such manner that they may be readily removed from the mold when desired. Thus a hoop l5 and Wire 16 may be used to retain the upper end of the staves l0 in position. No nails7 rivets, or other the like should be employed here, since it is Sufficient to merely press the hoop or Wire down over the staves 10 until they are held in firm position and it is undesirable to fasten the staves at the open end in any manner that would malte it difficult to remove same when it is desired to discharge the molded product.

In carrying out in' invention the mold is first coated on the inside with some suitable clay Wash, hydraulic cement, talc,

tullers earth, or any suitable material capablo of preventing the asphalt from adher ing to the sides of the mold. 'I he asphalt is drawn from the still or cooling tank or other suitable receptacle While in a sufficiently heated or molten state to How freely into the mold. rl`he asphalt is then allowed to remain in the mold for a period sutlicient to solidify. The time required for solidiiyingthe asphalt varies according to the grade oit asphalt, Weather conditions, and other various factors as will readily be understood by those skilled in the art.A ln general, the cooling period will run from about two to sir 'days with probably a four day period being the 'preferred length of time required for most ades when cooling the product under ordinary atmospheric conditions. lf desired, the molds may be placed in chilling chambers tofhasten the sohdifying.

When the asphalt is sufficiently solid the hoop l5 and wire 16 are removed', thereby permitting the staves l0 to fly or lex apart albove the bilge, as clearly shown in Figure 2, and thus enable the asphalt 17 to be readily removed or drawn from the mold.

The self-supporting body of asphalt upon being released from the mold is ready for shipment Without a container and in such rorm that it may he conveniently handled since it may easlly be rolled into places of storage' or into cars for shipment. lt is also in a convenient and desirable form for the customer.

Upon removal from the mold the asphalt contains a coating of cement, talc, ullerls earth, or other clay material and this coating' serves to protect the asphalt from injury and to prevent the molded articles from :alerones sticking -together when they are stacked Jfor storage or shipment.

lWhat l claim is l. A barrel shaped mold comprising'a circular bottom or head, a plurality of resilient staves permanently attached at their lower ends to the circular bottom or head and flaring outwardly When released at their up` per ends sufficiently to permit the ready removal of a 4barrel shaped seltsupporting body therefrom, and removable means *for temporarily holding the upper ends of the resilient staves together to close the mold periphery of said cnircular bottom or head in' tight edge to edge relation, arinanent means for securing the lower en s of said staves to said bottom or head, and a removable hoop or ring for temporarily holding the upper ends o' said tapering staves in tight edge to edge engagement While the fluid ma- Jferial is received and Solidifies7 said staves being resilient to enable their upper ends to iler outwardly when the hoop or ring is removed to allow the solidified barrel shaped body to be readily Withdrawn from the mold.

lin witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of August HB2/L on naar c. nai/varas. 

